Scheme to promote small tea plantations in Assam

The government has started a special scheme to promote small tea plantations in Assam that would help produce 26 percent of the country's tea output.

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the Rajya Sabha Wednesday that the scheme would improve productivity and provide greater market access to the small farmers.

Under the scheme, financial assistance is being provided extended to all small holdings tea farmers.

The assistance includes provisions for field inputs like training and setting up of proper leaf collection, developing mini tea processing factories, and providing transport facilities to the farmers to gain greater market access.

A separate cell has ben set up in the Tea Board of India to look after the development needs of the small holdings tea growers. The financial allocation of the board has also been increased by Rs.450 crore in the 11th plan at Rs.800 crore.